In this article we will continue our discussion regarding The Treatise of Rights by Imam Zayn Al-Abidin (AS). We will discuss the Right of Him through whom God makes you Happy. Regarding this, the Imam (AS) has said:

And the right of him through whom God makes you happy is that if he intentionally made you happy, you should first praise God and then you should thank him accordingly, and reward him for initiating a nobility and be determined to return his favor. But if he made you happy unintentionally, you should praise God, thank Him, and realize that He chose you exclusively for that, and you liked it. He has been one of the means of God’s blessings descending upon you. You should only wish him well since the means of descension of blessings are themselves blessings wherever they be, even if unintentionally. And there is no power but in God.

Going through life, and experiencing harsh circumstances makes us appreciate happiness more. Being happy is a gift from Allah (SWT) that everyone should be grateful for. It is through being happy that we move through life. If one were to closely observe their life and the lives of those around them, they would surely notice something very significant. Every individual in this universe seeks and works tiredly to achieve an aspect that may already to be present in their daily lives if only they took the time to realize it. Achieving happiness is everyone’s goal subconsciously or consciously, we humans are always striving to reach this illusion of happiness. Everyone has their own definition for happiness, some might say that their happiness is achieved through buying a house, or traveling or getting married, but is that really happiness.

There are many different situations in life. Sometimes life is filled with failures and difficulties. At other times, it is filled with success and happiness. The difficulties may seem like storms that threaten a safe harboring. The successes may cause such an outbreak of happiness that we lose all our control. Islam and the Qur’an direct us towards prosperity, and invite us to act moderately in all situations.
 

We should not lose hope in God’s Mercy when we are faced with difficulties. We should not think that there is no way out for us. We should not become negligent during times of happiness and forget our identity and God. We should remember God in all situations, and realize that blessings and the attention that we receive are due to God’s will. It is God who makes us happy. We should also realize that difficulties are very instrumental in our progress and development. We should be moderate whether we are happy or sad. The cause of happiness varies. Sometimes we get a new position. At other times, we get rich. Sometimes another person makes us happy.

One of the common reasons we find it so difficult to find happiness is due to our perception of what it really is. Our ability to be happy depends on how we define it.

For many, happiness is defined by what has been achieved, what has been accomplished, or material things we have obtained.

While these things can contribute to the feeling of being happy, do they really bring us true happiness?

What does Imam Ali (AS) say about happiness?

Nine rules for happiness by the Commander of the Faithful Ali :

1st: Rely on Allah when pleased and when grieved.

2nd: Fear Allah when you are alone, when travelling and when at home.

3rd: Do not coerce anyone, no matter how much he wrongs you.

4th: Do not worry, no matter how high your concerns may pile up.

5th: Live simply no matter how high your prestige may be.

6th: Anticipate goodness no matter how serious the affliction may be.

7th: Give a lot though you may be deprived even of a little.

8th: Smile even if your heart may be bleeding.

9th: Do not stop supplicating for your Muslim brother when he is absent.

Through Imam Ali’s eloquent words one can slightly change their viewpoint about happiness. Allah has given us human’s free will, and a mind to make decisions, anyone can be happy if they tried and worked hard enough.

Financial stability as well as other materialistic matters do play a role in one’s happiness, even though its importance is extremely low compared to other factors of happiness.

An individual with a correct set of beliefs and values will surely have a higher sense of happiness than those who live life freely without any beliefs and rules to regulate their lives. In the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says:

Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and work righteousness, Tuba (it means all kinds of happiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return.

Most factors of happiness, like ethical and religious virtues are at all people’s disposal, but we must not forget that there is a special emphasis in the words of Imam Ali (a) on the unseen factor of tawfiq (i.e. divine help for success), he says :”Tawfiq leads to goodness and is the most important factor of happiness.”

Now what if someone came and gave you a reason to be happy or made you happy in any way. How could we possibly thank them? Making believers happy is greatly encouraged in the Quran and in the Narrations of the Ahlul-Bayt (AS).

There is a chapter on this subject in Usul al-Kafi. The importance of happiness and making people happy has been outlined there. We will review a few of them here.

Abi Hamzeh al-Thumali quoted on the authority of Imam Sadiq on the authority of God’s Prophet:

“Whoever makes a believer happy has indeed made me happy. Whoever makes me happy has made God happy.”
 

This tradition shows us that one way to please the Prophet and God is to make the people happy. This can play a very important role in fostering social unity, and in eliminating hard feelings and animosities. Jabir narrated that Imam Baqir said:

“The smile of a believer at another believer is a good deed. Removing a speck from your brother’s eye is a good deed. No form of worshipping God is more loved by Him than making the believer happy.”

Therefore, the best form of worshipping God is making others happy. Imam Baqir said: “In the supplications of Moses - the son of Imran - we read that God told Moses : “There are among My servants some for whom Heaven is destined and they shall have the rule there.” Then Moses asked: “O Lord! Who are those who have such a special place in Heaven?”

God said: “Those who make believers happy.” This tradition continues as follows: “If a believer who lives in a land that is ruled by an oppressive ruler migrates to a land in which pagans live, seeks asylum there and gets influenced by them; when he dies he will be told, “O My servant! I would have let you reside in Heaven if you had any place there, but Heaven is forbidden for those who set up partners with me.” The fire will be ordered to seize that man but not to torture him, and he will be fed at proper times. Then Moses asked: “Where will he be fed from?” God said: “He will be fed from wherever God wills.”

We also see a similar concept in the following verse:

“God forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth …” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Nisaa 4:48]

Therefore, we realize that those who make people happy go to Heaven and have a special rank there. In the sixth tradition in the above-mentioned chapter, we read that Imam Sadiq said:

“When one of you makes a believer happy, you should not think that you have only made him happy. No, I swear by God, you have also made us happy. No, I swear by God, you have also made God’s Prophet happy.”

Therefore the Prophet and the Immaculate Imams all get happy when they see that their followers are being kind to each other and making each other happy.

Not only that but making other believers happy could actually save you on the day of resurrection. Sodayr Seyrafi quoted on the authority of Imam Sadiq : “When a believer is resurrected on Judgment Day, he might see someone ahead of him who tells him not to be afraid of what he sees, and gives him glad tidings of happiness from the Lord. Then that person always accompanies him until the Reckoning. His Reckoning will be an easy one, and he will be told to go to Heaven.

That person who always walks ahead of him will still accompany him. Then the believer will ask: “May God have Mercy upon you. You have been walking ahead of me since I was resurrected, and have given me glad tidings of God’s Mercy on me. Now please tell me who you are.” That person will say: “I am the result of your deeds making other believers happy in your life. God created me out of that happiness to give you glad tidings.” In this tradition, we see that all our deeds will somehow be manifested in the Hereafter.

Now we will mention a beautiful story about making others happy. Kulayni narrated that Mohammad ibn Jamhoor said: “Najashi was a farmer who was appointed as the governor of the provinces of Ahwaz and Fars. One of his agents went to see Imam Sadiq and said: I owe Najashi a lot of taxes and know that he really likes you. Can you please write a recommendation for me? Imam Sadiq wrote: “In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Make your brother happy in order to make God happy.”

Then the man took the letter and gave it to Najashi. Najashi waited until others left. Then he kissed the letter and asked him what he wanted. The man told Najashi that he had been taxed 10,000 Dirhams. Najashi ordered the tax not to be taken from him, and asked if he had made him happy that way. The man said yes. Then he ordered that a horse, a servant and a maid be given to him and asked if he had made him happy.

The man said yes. Then Najashi ordered the carpet he was sitting on to be given to him, too. Later on, Mohammad ibn Jamhoor told the Imam what had happened. The Imam became happy. He said: “O you became happy.” The Imam said: “Yes. I swear by God that the Prophet became happy, too.”

From this story we can learn who much the Ahlul-Bayt (AS) valued making others happy, and how we as their followers should strive to do the same.